Maryland Election Chief Pushes Back on Trump Executive Order Regarding Election Integrity

Maryland’s top election official has responded to President Donald Trump’s latest executive order on election integrity, signaling concerns over its potential effects while reaffirming the state’s commitment to transparent and secure elections. Administrator Jared DeMarinis of the Maryland State Board of Elections said the state is reviewing the new federal directives to ensure compliance with Maryland laws. At the same time, he criticized the order for overlooking the role of foreign and domestic disinformation in undermining public trust in elections.

President Trump’s executive order, titled Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections, was issued on March 25, 2025. It outlines sweeping federal directives aimed at strengthening election security, emphasizing voter identification, restricting mail-in voting deadlines, and enforcing citizenship verification requirements. The order mandates that ballots must be received by Election Day to be counted, aligning with recent court interpretations, and directs federal agencies to ensure state compliance with existing voter registration and election laws. It also seeks to block non-citizens from voting or registering by requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration at both state and federal levels.

In contrast, Maryland election officials stressed that state procedures already ensure election integrity through coordination with local boards and adherence to established legal standards. DeMarinis said he was disheartened that the order did not include provisions to combat the spread of disinformation—particularly from foreign actors—that threatens voter confidence and participation. He emphasized the importance of accurate information and transparency, urging platforms to promote verified sources like the Maryland State Board of Elections.

DeMarinis also expressed concern over voter intimidation and harassment, noting that such behavior can occur not only at polling places but even after elections. He highlighted the importance of safeguarding voters’ rights, especially given the country’s historical struggle to secure access to the ballot box. Additionally, Maryland officials are analyzing how the executive order may affect military and overseas voters, particularly in light of its call to reject ballots received after Election Day regardless of postmark. DeMarinis reaffirmed that, under Maryland law, legally cast mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day are valid and must be counted.

Trump’s order includes new directives for the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and other federal agencies to share data with state officials to detect and remove non-citizens from voter rolls. It also requires updates to voting systems and voter registration processes and withholds federal election funding from states that do not comply with federal deadlines and ID verification policies. Maryland, however, maintains that its election system already upholds principles of transparency and fairness and that any changes prompted by the order will be evaluated within the framework of state law.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the Maryland State Board of Elections press release and Executive Order 14148, issued by the White House.

---